The One Sided Coin
- William J Mullen
August 20 2017
The age of enlightenment is far from reality here in these United States under the careful scrutiny of The Trump Administration. What we have been witness to in these last two weeks has been a national tragedy of immense proportion. And the blame game goes into high gear.
It is not hard to see – as a rational critical thinker – the clear and obvious posturing by the far right in the aftermath of last weekend’s tragedy in Charlottesville. The attempt by the far right to sanitize their culpability by seizing on an opportunity to frame the anti-fascist movement as “the same” is tragic in and of itself, but not surprising in any way . . . the childish argument of “No I’m not, you are . . . ” is an old tactic used by the right for decades – and still just as childish.
Let’s examine a few key points:
- White Supremacy and lynching
During the twentieth century close to 4,000 [black] men, women -and yes – children were brutally executed here in the USA, along with close to 1,300 white sympathizers.
As a result, many anti-hate groups – similar to the modern Black Lives Matter movement, sprung up to aid the African American plight – and to directly battle the likes of the KKK, soon to be Aryan Brotherhood, John Birchers, and more. These groups which led directly into the civil rights movement were called agitators and traitors by the white supremacist populous. One such group, the NAACP, went on to champion rights issues for Black America and helped [attempt] to eradicate the socialized crimes against Black America. Though, throughout the 50’s and 60’s hundreds of additional African Americans were murdered across the country.
- Key talking points for modern White Supremacists and The KKK
There is only one true race. Only one race has God chosen. The other mongrel races should be subjugated and treated as such. Slavery is good. And Jews, well Jews are definitely bad. All of your [White America’s] financial and social problems stem from these mongrel groups – an idea espoused time and time again by the POTUS, Donald Trump. As well as the idea that protest groups and anti-fascist groups are essentially the “same as” and of equivalent violence to white hate groups.
The KKK itself has been held responsible for hundreds of deaths and other acts of egregious violence and terrorism just in the last half of the Twentieth Century.
- Black Lives Matter
Founded in 2012 as a result of the Trayvon Martin case, Black Lives Matter is an intellectual movement more than an organization, has limited central leadership – though is galvanized through unity of ideals. It’s stated goals are to rid the system of institutionalized racism, to buck stereotypes, and to lift the black community out of the despair of indisputable inequity. There have been no indictments of the group, or of individuals who acted ‘explicitly in the name’ of the group. No murders, lynchings, sanctioned rape, beatings or other deeds commonplace to the fascist movements . . . as well there is no mention of disparaging content to the white community in any of their literature . . . or any other race or creed.
- ANTIFA
This is the one a lot of folks are up in arms over. The thought, common in the right wing sector is that ANTIFA is some new sinister ‘terrorist’ organisation taking to the streets. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
ANTIFA or anti fascist, has been around since the 40’s. Yes, that’s right. ANTIFA finds it’s roots in citizens that stood up to Mussolini. They fought in the streets against the Wehrmacht and the Hitler Youth in the final days of World War 2. They fought in the streets as well against Franco, Ceausescu, and more. These were regular people who, along with scores of G.I.’s and other Allied forces took grave personal risk to fight for OUR rights. Again, as with Black Lives there has been no indicted criminality or other indefensible actions or statements from ANTIFA. The general mission statement is as follows:
“ . . . help to build, defend, educate and create an effective cultural resistance against fascism.”
Clearly from a simple summation of activities and mission statements one can easily see the argument that there is no difference between the two sides is far from an accurate depiction.
To highlight the absurdity of this point of view let’s use logical extension:
By logic, if Black Lives Matter is the same as the KKK, then the Tuskeegee Airmen are the same as the Japanese Kamikaze pilots of WW2.
By logic, if ANTIFA is the same as Neo-Nazis, then ‘The Big Red 1’ (US First Infantry in World War 2) is the same as the Hitler Youth.
. . . the Space Shuttle no different the V2 rockets
. . . Eisenhauer no different than Goebels.
I use these – obviously absurd – examples in part to highlight the lack of critical thinking on behalf of folks who view the above groups as the same in action or ideal, and in part to emphasize what is really at stake here – broader freedoms and social justice. One has to recognize the offenders for what they are before one can prosecute action on the behalf of the greater good.
The comparisons to World War 2 soldiers are very applicable here. The comparisons to Pre World War 2 Italy and Germany continue to be rife.
Our grandfathers, uncles, brothers, friends – fought against great odds to defeat the Axis powers. They took enormous risk. Some gave their lives.
But it was not without social unrest. At all.
The United States in the Post World War 1 world was an isolationist country, and very few wanted to fight another war, and a portion of the populace were even sympathetic to the Nazi/Fascist cause. In fact, Fascism was a rising force here at home too. Barkers on street corners arguing against the Jews, the Gypsies, the Blacks . . . all foreigners. Some agreed. Charles Lindbergh agreed, as did Walt Disney, just to name a couple.
However, ultimately critical thinking took over. Wisdom won out over sensationalism and isolation. Compassion won out over bigotry.
It was a national turning point.
And this is where we are now. A national turning point. A choice of national identity. A choice of national survival . . . we can not survive as the nation we have been – as a nation divided.
Remember this one thing . . . racism – overt or tacit – is a choice.
“As a national emblem, it is significant of our higher cause, the cause of a superior race, and a higher civilization contending against ignorance, infidelity, and barbarism.”
William Tappan Thompson – creator of the Confederate flag, on the adoption of the flag, May 1863
William J Mullen 